Anonymous —

Christ did not use the future predictively.

In Matthew 7:13 and 14, He says:

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

1. Here He is first stating what is happening, what He sees, at the time of His ministry.
2. Secondly, He is stating the general truth about the way to destruction being wide, and the way to life being hard.
3. Third, He is speaking about the start of the journey, and even about finding the way that leads to life, and about what people can find on their own.

Comparatively few people, without Revelation, can find the way to life. With the help of the Gospel and the Sacraments, God makes it easy for us. Last, of course, many is not most.

In Luke 13:24, He says,

"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

He speaks of the door of which many will not be able to enter, which is not most.
Here, He is speaking in response to the question,

"Lord, are only a few going to be saved?" (Luke 13:23)

So He is speaking about the end of the journey: entering the door to eternal life. Many will seek to enter the Feast at the end, and will not be able. Then He goes on to say that many will come from east and west and enter ahead of many of those the questioner refers to, which is, from the context, the People of Israel. Specifically, He mentions evildoers, who, even if they are Israelites, will not be saved.

Christ redirects the question. The questioner wanted to know generally if many would be saved, and probably figured that he, the questioner, had a pretty good idea of what salvation was, and how you got it. Perhaps the questioner was scandalized by the labor and work of going from town to town preaching, or wondering if the crowds that turned out could all be saved, given that so few of them met the criteria of the Law or perhaps the questioner was being theological.

Christ brought him down to earth. The question is not how many are saved, but to be careful for ourselves, to:

• strive
• not presume salvation
• not judge others, and
• not miss the opportunities God sends, as Jerusalem was about to do.

Mary Ann

Anonymous,

One can only belong to Satan by sin, by free choice. Even a possessed person does not belong to Satan. Even a person who has freely dedicated himself to satan does not belong to satan, unless he maintains that choice until death. A person always belongs to God, and to himself.

No matter what a person is experiencing, the person can make a free choice and can call upon God, who is always ready to help us.

As for persecution, all of us are persecuted by satan. We are also tested by:

• our own nature
• others, and
• the world.

This is our testing time.  Pray to be delivered from all evil.

You said:

• Does Jesus curse people?

Jesus does not curse people. People curse people, but curses can be broken by the power of the name of Jesus, invoked devoutly and with faith.

We should always surround ourselves with protection from the evil in the world; this protection comes from God's help, which is called upon by our prayer and the prayer of others (including those in heaven), and is given through his angels. The prayer of the Church is used when we employ blessed objects, such as medals and holy water.

Mary Ann

Hi, Anonymous —

Find a local Catholic parish with priests that are faithful to the Church and the Holy Father and tell one of them you are interested in the various ministries they have within the parish.

This is probably the parish where you attend Sunday Mass. Everyone at the parish level, can help out in an array of ministries. Through prayer, you can find out where the Lord is calling you to serve.

Hope this helps,

Mike